While the vast majority of us will never afford to travel first class, that doesn't stop us dreaming about life on the other side of the grey curtain every time we step on an
airplane. Certainly, the difference between economy and first class is rather chasmic; while us savers and scrimpers have to contend with knocking our knees against table trays, eating food with plastic cutlery and standing in never-ending bathroom queues, those in the upper echelons of society can enjoy a veritable fantasy land of luxury and decadence, replete with gourmet meals, champagne and all the other perks that you can partake in when you've shelled out over $3,000 to cruise the skies in style.
But now it appears that even the top 1 per cent have something to aspire to: Dubai based
airline, Emirates, have recently unveiled fully-enclosed first class suites on their Boeing 777 fleets, and boy are they lust worthy.
Despite already being one of the world's leading airlines, Emirates have took it one step further by unmasking the latest addition to their coterie of luxury perks: state-of-the-art first class suites.
Announced at the biennial Dubai Airshow on Sunday, the suites are going to be introduced to the public for the first time next month on the commercial Boeing 777 fleets. And high-fliers are purportedly going to be charged an eye-watering £7,000 for the luxury.
The fully-enclosed cabins are roomy, measuring 40 square feet (3.7 square metres) and were described as "game-changers" at the airshow. A spokesperson for Emirates explained that the suites provide unrivalled privacy and come with mood lighting, a mini bar and a 32 inch television for all of your binge-watching needs.
The cabins are equipped with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, ensuring that you won't be bothered by fellow passengers. And the majority of the suites also feature a window view which can be enjoyed with a pair of bespoke binoculars.
But those who find themselves in the middle aisle won't be missing out on any Instagram worthy views. According to a spokesperson from Emirates, cabins in the middle aisle are fitted with "virtual windows" which live stream the views from the plane through fibre optic external cameras.
And it doesn't just end there. The suites come equipped with a wireless remote-control, their own personal wardrobe and private stowage space for their carry-ons. Further, the mood lighting and temperature settings can be customised to please even the pickiest of passengers.
Customers are able to video call the cabin crew for requests without leaving their plush leather seats, which not only recline till they're fully flat, but can also be placed in a "zero-gravity" position. And naturally, customers are served drinks and canapés throughout their flight, but in a rather unconventional way: through a special service window that ensures that fellow passengers aren't disturbed.
A spokesperson from the airline elaborated on the inspiration behind the suites, explaining that the cabins were modelled on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, while the "zero-gravity" seats were designed with the help of NASA technology
Well, it appears that we're all going to have to start working a lot harder if we ever want to experience this kind of first-class.
